"And send them to their deaths? No, no, I should be less than human if I were to do that."
"Fernandez will be less than human if you do not," was the other's brutal response. "Permit me, and I will call Palmyre."
As he said this, I turned to the man behind me and signalled that I was about to enter the room. Then, revolver in hand, I strode in.
"That will do, Silvestre," I cried, covering him with the revolver as I approached him.
"Good heavens! you here?" he shouted, as if he found it difficult to believe the evidence of his own eyes. The Señorita was leaning against the table with a look of bewildered astonishment upon her face.
"As you see, I have returned," I answered. "But I have not time to discuss that matter with you now. I give you fair warning that if you speak again I shall shoot. Sit down in that chair and put your hands behind you!"
"'I give you fair warning that if you speak again I shall shoot.'"
With an oath Silvestre complied with my request.
Turning to Matthews, I signed to him to carry out the work we had previously arranged. In less time than it takes to tell, Don Guzman de Silvestre was securely fastened in his chair, a gag had been placed in his mouth, and it was then out of his power to do any mischief. From the expression upon his face I could gather some notion of what his feelings were. It was very evident that if I should have the misfortune to fall into his hands again I should be likely to receive but little mercy from him. As soon as he was secure, and I had abstracted the key of the block-house from his pocket, I turned to the lady.